Major Requirements

Core Courses

The content on this page is for illustrative purposes only. Official degree requirements can be found in the Whittier College Catalog.

In addition to having at least 90 credits on their Whittier College transcript and satisfying the Whittier College Liberal Education Requirements, all 3-2 Engineering students must complete and maintain a 3.0(or better) GPA in the following science and mathematics courses.

  • PHYS 150,180,185 Calculus-based Physics* (11 credits)
  • MATH 141, 142; 241 Calculus and Analytical Geometry (12 credits)
  • COSC 120 Computer Programming I (3 credits)
  • MATH 345A Differential Equations (3 credits)
  • CHEM 110A General Chemistry (4 credits)

Also, while not required in the core, for some engineering specialties it is advisable to take the second semester of CHEM 110B General Chemistry (4 credits). 

* The following courses are strongly recommended for students planning to major in electrical engineering and related disciplines:

PHYS 275 Modern Physics (4 credits)

Please note that specific requirements vary from one engineering program to another. Students may need to take additional courses at Whittier College to prepare for particular engineering programs. Frequent consultation with Seamus Lagan, 3-2 Engineering advisor, is strongly advised.

Option A: 3-2 Physics Program

3-2 students wishing to receive a B.A. in physics in combination with an engineering degree must complete, in addition to the core courses, the following 15 credits in physics.

  • PHYS 275 Modern Physics (3 credits)
  • PHYS 310 Mechanics (3 credits)
  • PHYS 320 Optics (3 credits)
  • PHYS 330 Electromagnetic Theory (3 credits)
  • PHYS 380 Experimental Physics (3 credits)

Option B: 3-2 Chemistry Program

3-2 students wishing to receive a B.A. in chemistry in combination with an engineering degree must complete, in addition to the core courses, the following 24 credits in chemistry.

The following courses must be taken at Whittier College:

  • CHEM 110B General Chemistry (4 credits)
  • CHEM 231A, B Organic Chemistry (6 credits)
  • CHEM 233A, B Organic Chemistry Lab (2 credits)
  • CHEM 220A, B Quantitative Analysis (5 credits)

The following course may be taken at Whittier or the engineering school:

  • CHEM 321 A Physical Chemistry(4 credits)

One upper-division chemistry course approved by the department (3 credits)

Option C: 3-2 Math Program

3-2 students wishing to receive a B.A. in mathematics in combination with an engineering degree must complete, in addition to the core courses, the following 15 credits in mathematics.

  • MATH 242 Introduction to Applied Elementary Linear Algebra (3 credits)
  • MATH 280 Abstract Thinking (3 credits)
  • And, three additional courses in MATH or COSC courses at the 200 level or above, approved by the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science

Option D: 3-2 Computer Science Program

3-2 students wishing to receive a B.A. in Integrated Computer Science in combination with an engineering degree must complete, in addition to the core courses, the following 18 credits:

  • COSC 220 Data Structures (3 credits)
  • COSC 240 Algorithm Design and Analysis (3 credits)
  • COSC 310 Operating Systems or COSC320 - Computer Organization/Architecture (3 credits)
  • COSC 330 Computer logic & circuit design (3 credits)
  • MATH 220 Discrete math (3 credits)
  • One of the following: MATH 280 Abstract Thinking (3 credits) PHYS 275 Modern Physics (3 credits)

Option E: 3-2 Science and Letters Program

Some 3-2 students may wish to complete a B.A. in science and letters in combination with an engineering degree. This option offers more flexibility than the 3-2 majors in chemistry, physics, computer science or math, but students cannot receive a B.A. in science and letters without completing an engineering program.

The requirements for the science and letters major include completion of:

  • the Liberal Education program;
  • the 3-2 core courses;
  • the requirements for a minor in Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science or Mathematics; and
  • three (3) additional credits of upper division courses in any of these disciplines.